News
Plastic Warriors – a fight against plastic pollution
Filmmaker Lavado Stubbs & Environmental Scientist Kristal ‘Ocean’ Ambrose release PLASTIC WARRIORS, a film that follows Kristal’s fight against plastic pollution.
The Bahamas, a country internationally recognized for its stunning seascapes and wealth of fauna and flora, is a true paradise on Earth. However, this paradise is polluted by plastic. The marine litter concentrations for The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean is nearly three times the global average, with an accumulation rate of up to six hundred million metric tonnes of plastic by 2025 for The Bahamas.
Plastic Warriors follows Kristal Ambrose, also known as “Kristal Ocean”, a marine and environmental scientist who grew up loving the oceans surrounding her island home of The Bahamas. After sailing across the Pacific Ocean to study an oceanic “garbage patch”, she returned home to affect change by inspiring both the government and its citizens to move towards creating a plastic free Bahamas through her non-profit organization Bahamas Plastic Movement (BPM). Using her unique approach to education and activism, Kristal connects Bahamian youth to the marine environment and empowers them to use their voice to protect the natural environment and create legislation aimed at its protection-these are the plastic warriors. In 2020, The Bahamas passed a law banning select single use plastics, a monumental law brought forward by the plastic warriors.
Shot with vintage anamorphic lenses to exalt the beauty of The Bahamas landscapes’, Plastic Warriors is a documentary that follows Kristal’s fight to battle plastic pollution in The Bahamas and highlights the possibilities of change to protect the environment through youth empowerment.
You can watch the trailer here.
In just 24 hours of the world premier, Plastic Warriors exceeded 40,000 views. Following the premier a panel focused on legislative changes on small islands. Some featured panelists included moderator Danni Washington, Kristal Ambrose (Founder of BPM), Lavado Stubbs (Director, Conch Boy Films), Dyson Chee (Project O.C.E.A.N.), Kiana Liu (Maui Huliau Foundation), Abby Ramnarine (BPM), William Simmons (Space 2 Create), Jackie Nunez (The Last Plastic Straw), Tarryn Johnson (BPM), Jaclyn Johnson (Kokua Hawaii Foundation), and Lyndee Bowe (Ministry of Environment).
You can find a recording of the film premiere on the Bahamas Plastic Movement’s Youtube. To host your own screening you can find the screening kit on their website.
Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.
After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.
With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
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